Quick and Simple 20-Minute Shrimp Scampi Without Wine Recipe

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If you love the lemony and garlicky taste of classic shrimp scampi but don’t want to bother with the wine, then this shrimp scampi recipe without wine is one for the books. It takes just 20 minutes to make using a single pan!

Jump to Recipe

I used to think this dish was complicated, but it’s surprisingly easy to make. Now, it’s one of my go-to easy keto recipes that I don’t feel guilty about eating when I’m craving seafood pasta. It’s a family-friendly and versatile dish that makes a scrumptious lunch or even a light dinner on those busy nights. I don’t know about you, but sometimes it feels like there’s just not enough time in the day!

Gluten-free shrimp scampi can easily be doubled or tripled and served for a crowd. Pair it with buttermilk drop biscuits for a true comfort meal that’s fancy enough to impress your family and friends. For more meal inspiration, check out these family-friendly low-carb 30-minute meals for lunch or dinner.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Scampi is a traditional European dish consisting of a certain type of crustacean sauteed in garlic and butter. Depending on local availability, various crustaceans can be used. For this shrimp scampi recipe without wine, we’re obviously going for shrimp.

And with my handy-dandy veggie spiralizer, I made broad, thin zucchini noodles to go with the scampi. The result is the most welcomed shrimp dish around my dinner table. Here’s why you’ll love adding this to your meal prep rotation:

• Family-friendly and kid-approved: A no-alcohol recipe that you can safely share with your little ones; the perfect way to sneak in some vegetables (also a great way to get the kids involved in food prep).
• Simple ingredients: Great way to use up summer produce and kitchen staples.
• Short prep and cooking time: Prep the ingredients ahead and the recipe is done in under 20 minutes.
• Amazing flavors: Rich, buttery, and delicious shrimp scampi sauce enhanced by garlic and herbs; with a savory flavor from shrimp and mild tanginess from lemon.
• Basic kitchen equipment: Uses minimal kitchen tools, including a skillet.
• Easy-to-follow directions: Great for beginners; follow 3 straightforward steps that don’t require fancy cooking techniques.

How to Make Gluten-Free Shrimp Scampi

This shrimp scampi recipe without wine comes together in just 20 minutes using wholesome ingredients including shrimp, zucchini noodles, chicken broth, and a handful of fresh herbs and spices.

Start by heating the butter in a skillet over medium heat, then add the shrimp, herbs, and spices. Once the shrimp are pink and cooked through, pour in the broth along with lemon juice and seasonings. Add in the zoodles and cook until soft, then garnish with Parmesan. Serve hot.

Scroll to the bottom of this post for a printable recipe card with a full list of ingredients, measurements, and step-by-step instructions to make this light and zesty shrimp scampi recipe without wine.

Ingredients You Need

Converting grain-based pasta dishes to low-carb alternatives is super easy once you know about appropriate keto pasta alternatives. This gluten-free shrimp scampi requires everyday ingredients that you likely already have on hand or can find easily at your local grocery store. Here’s an overview of what you’ll need:

• Butter
• Salt
• Garlic
• Lemon juice
• Parmesan cheese
• Ground black pepper
• Zucchini: Spiralized and properly drained of excess moisture.
• Shrimp: Skip the farmed stuff and go for fresh and wild-caught. Look for jumbo shrimp with 16-20 count at the grocery store or seafood market, preferably already peeled and deveined to save yourself some time.
• Chicken broth: Use either homemade or the store-bought variety.  

Variations

Shrimp scampi without wine is a versatile dish that can be served in many ways. While it’s hard to mess up the tasty combo of shrimp, butter, and garlic, you can go ahead and substitute or play around with the rest of the ingredients to customize the recipe according to your preference. Here are some ideas:

• Don’t like zoodles? Swap with other vegetable noodles or gluten-free angel hair pasta.
• Veggie-fy the dish by swapping out shrimp for artichoke hearts, extra virgin olive oil instead of butter, and vegetable stock instead of chicken broth.
• If seafood isn’t your thing, replace shrimp with chicken.
• To deepen the flavor, add a bouillon cube to your chicken broth.
• If you don’t have chicken broth, use vegetable broth, shrimp stock, or fish stock instead.
• Add a splash of apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar instead of lemon juice.
• Speed up the cooking process by preparing garlic butter to go with your shrimp and zoodles.

I chose chicken bone broth for the non-alcoholic scampi sauce and made some light and tasty zucchini noodles (or “zoodles”) as a low-carb alternative to grain-based pasta. If you haven’t made vegetable noodles, you’re missing out! They’re healthy, flavorful, and not to mention gluten-free. What’s not to love?

Step-By-Step Instructions

This shrimp scampi recipe without wine requires very little effort to throw together. It takes less than 20 minutes of your time and is the perfect way to use up your surplus summer squash and other ingredients lying around in your fridge and pantry. 

Since it’s a quick and easy dish, it’s a great option for busy weeknights when you want a deliciously satisfying meal. Here’s how to make everything come together effortlessly:

• Cook the shrimp. In a large skillet with melted butter, cook the shrimp with herbs and spices until the shrimp turns pink.
• Make the scampi sauce and zoodles. As shrimp cooks, simmer chicken bone broth with lemon juice and seasonings, then stir in zucchini noodles until soft. Garnish with Parmesan, and serve immediately.

During the summer when my garden is abundant with zucchini, I make sure to whip up a zucchini dish at least once a week. And when I get sick of making zucchini egg muffins and egg cups, I turn to noodles. You’ll see the Summer Squash Linguini Recipe in The Ketogenic Edge Cookbook.

How to Store This Recipe

This low-maintenance shrimp scampi recipe without wine is best served hot. If you do have leftovers or would like to make it ahead, let it cool to room temperature before storing in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They should stay fresh for the next 2 days.

The dish also freezes well and lasts for up to a month, provided you separate the shrimp. When ready to enjoy, simply thaw in the fridge and reheat in a pan over medium heat for 5 to 6 minutes or until shrimp are heated through. Add in fresh zucchini noodles and a splash of leftover chicken broth.

What to Serve with Shrimp Scampi Recipe Without Wine

Gluten-free shrimp scampi can be enjoyed as a delicious appetizer or light meal, but can also be dressed up with a variety of side dishes to make a more well-rounded meal. Here are some ideas:

• Serve with crusty garlic bread with lemon wedges.
• Enjoy over a bed of mashed cauliflower, cauliflower rice, or brown rice.
• Pair with a light green salad with vinaigrette dressing or a Caesar salad.
• Prepare alongside roasted or steamed veggies like asparagus, broccoli, green beans, or Brussels sprouts.
• Pair with creamy polenta for a more authentic Italian comfort meal.
• Enjoy with some roasted potatoes sprinkled with rosemary and thyme.

More Easy Seafood Recipes to Try

• Avocado Tuna Melt
• Moqueca de Camarao
• Tuna Melt Quesadilla
• Lemony Tuna Zoodles with Pine Nuts
• Spicy Tuna Salad with Cucumber Bites

If you make this shrimp scampi recipe without wine, please leave a review. I really appreciate each and every 5-star rating and comment!